Canna: The Story of a Hebridean Island

by John Lorne Campbell

An account of Canna, a beautiful Hebridean island. Small though it is, many of the major historical trends of the Hebrides have touched it, from St Columba through the Benedictine monasticism of Iona to the Lordship of the Isles. Following the Reformation the island was of considerable importance to the Irish Franciscan mission of the 1620s and also the Jacobite risings before being swept up in the tragedies of depopulation and clearance of the 19th century. Gifted to the National Trust in 1981, the island is undergoing something of a revival, with the creation of the St Edward Centre on Sanday, and the proposed developments of Canna House. Archaeological surveys and historical research has uncovered more evidence about the island. Hugh Cheape of the Royal Museum of Scotland, who has been intimately involved with the Canna project, has edited this volume. This edition contains new contributions which update and fill out the account of the island.

Genres: Scotland

364 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

John Lorne Campbell was a Scottish historian, farmer, environmentalist and folklore scholar.

In the 1930s Campbell was living on the Hebridean island of Barra where, with the author Compton Mackenzie, he founded the Sea League to fight for the rights of local fishermen and organised a strike of motorists in protest at having to pay tax on an island with no made-up roads. In 1935 he married the American musician Margaret Fay Shaw, whom he met on the island of South Uist. In 1938 the couple bought the island of Canna, south of Skye, and went to live there in Canna House. He farmed the island for 40 years and made it a sanctuary for wildlife. At the same time he continued to record a disappearing Gaelic heritage and to write and publish extensively about Gaelic and Highland culture and life. In 1981 Campbell gave Canna to the National Trust for Scotland, but he continued to live on the island.

Reviews

[I · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting, although, slightly disjointed read.

The first two-thirds of the book addresses the history of Canna from the time of the Lord of the Isles up until when the National Trust for Scotland takes over the running of the island.

Then the remaining third of the book is appendices. These including everything from interviews with former islanders, old Factor records of who owns (and owes) what, and list of Gaelic name places and their meanings, and the flora, fauna, and geology of the island. So, there are bits of this that you can skip if you are not interested in it, or simply refer to for reference.

The disjointed aspect springs from the style in which it is written. The style is, for the most part, is objective, accessible academic, however, this changes when John Lorne Campbell starts to recant his trials and tribulations on acquiring the island. The tone becomes subjective and grumbling, especially about matters which most Islanders will tell you, are to be expected from living on an island such as being stranded, or underfunded travel, or substandard-costs-a-bomb to live there, etc.
A wee bit extra editing could have sorted that out no problem.

However, it does offer a fascinating insight into a very special and magical island so it is worth the read.

[Guido · Rating 4 out of 5]

JLC owned tiny Canna, south of Skye, from 1938 until his death in 2001. It's a loving description of a beautiful place.